STOCKHOLM (dpa-AFX) - Tui has launched a portal for customers in Sweden to book hotels and other accommodation directly - the sale of such individual offers is to be extended to other countries. This is part of the strategy to complement classic package tours with flexible components that can be combined individually. CEO Sebastian Ebel and Tui Northern Europe manager Jessica Enbacka presented the plans in Stockholm on Friday.

The group aims to grab a bigger share of the growing solo bookings market with its "accommodation only" concept. Initially, this involves brokering accommodation only. So far, providers such as Booking.com and Expedia or comparison portals such as Trivago have been particularly strong in this area. Scandinavia is the starting point for Tui. Its first own digital hotel portal in Sweden has been running since mid-December. "In February, we'll roll it out in Norway, Denmark and Finland," Enbacka announced. Ebel said other markets would be added over the course of the year.

Initially, more than 15,000 hotels and just over 50 different destinations are included, it said. "We are continuously adding more." Prices are to be calculated flexibly - depending on demand - and not fixed in advance. Before booking, sights or suggestions for excursions are also displayed.

As a rule, organizers buy components of packages in large quantities, which also gives them a certain price stability. Ebel explained that elements put together by consumers themselves nonetheless have considerable potential in the industry - and for established package providers as well. "For example, many customers are only looking for accommodation when they visit friends or relatives, or when they go on a business trip. It's absolutely essential to sell such components as well." The response in the first few weeks in Sweden has been a positive surprise, he said.

The goal, he said, is to offer other individual services in addition to hotels or guesthouses, such as for events and other activities. "The customer is looking at where he can go diving, cycling or to museums and concerts." The inclusion of car rental companies is also conceivable, he said.

According to the Tui boss, the market for "dynamic packaging" of separate tourist services is roughly the size of the package tour market. The company therefore also wants to better market existing hotel and flight capacities without incurring significant additional expenses. The aim is to achieve "profitable growth within the same cost structure. According to Tui, this will give customers more choice and more combination options overall.

The Hanover-based company had recently recovered somewhat from the Corona fallout, but continues to look for ways to improve efficiency. "We went through a very difficult, challenging period," Ebel said. From October to December, he said, the good trend continued./jap/DP/nas